RADNOR, PA – The Cabrini women's lacrosse team will make its 18th NCAA Tournament appearance on Sunday, as the Cavaliers face No. 3 Tufts University in the second round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. The game will take place at 2:30pm at Colby College in Waterville, ME.

The Cavaliers (8-2) secured their spot in the tournament with Saturday's 21-11 victory over Marymount. The win marked the Blue and White's ninth consecutive conference championship and 18th in program history.

Sophomore Olivia Little earned Most Valuable Player honors after posting a career high 11 points on four goals and seven assists to go with 13 draw controls.  

Classmate Dana Carlson added another spark to the Blue and White attack, posting eight goals on 11 shots, four ground balls, two caused turnovers and two draw controls. Freshman Victoria Zielke chipped in with a career best four goals, while fellow rookie Olivia Pace added two markers.  

Early in today's contest, junior Taylor Dimmerling entered the program's record book, tallying her 100th career goal.

The Cavaliers took control in the first half with a dominant performance in the draw circle, where it won the first 10 draws of the game and 17 of 21 draws in the first half. Sophomore Shea Neary added eight draw controls to Little's 13, while Dimmerling matched Carlson with two each.

Sophomore goaltender Sam Hamalak anchored the defensive effort with five saves, while junior Ashley Tutzauer matched a season high with three caused turnovers.

Tufts (6-0) is making its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance after earning the program's first NESCAC championship. Despite a limited number of tournament appearances, the Jumbos have scored at least one victory in each of its last three appearances, including reaching the national semifinal round in 2019.

The Jumbos used a dominate defensive performance to stifle No. 14 Wesleyan in last week's 14-3 NESCAC championship victory.

Senior Catherine Lawless led Tufts with four goals and an assist in the win, while junior Anna Clarks added three goals, three draw controls and a pair of caused turnovers.

While Wesleyan won 12 of the game's 18 draws, Tufts outshot the Cardinals 29-20 and converted five of its eight free position shots. But it was the Jumbos' that was the star of the afternoon.

Junior goaltender Molly Laliberty saved 13 of Wesleyan's 16 shots on goal, including nine out of 10 in the second half, and collected three ground balls and caused a turnover. Junior defender Madison Lehan finished with two caused turnovers, as Tufts' three goals allowed are the third-fewest for a NESCAC final.

Scouting the Cavaliers
The Blue and White boast a powerful offense that ranks 21st in Division III at 17 goals per game. The attack is powered by six players who have recorded at least 10 goals on the shortened season, led by Carlson, the Atlantic East Conference Player of the Year.

The sophomore ranks 20th in the country with 4.0 goals per game, while her 6.0 points per game are good for 24th. Carlson will enter Sunday's contest riding a streak of eight consecutive games with at least five points.

Little Little ranks second on the club with 52 points, pairing 27 goals with a team high 25 helpers. The sophomore's 44 draw controls are good for second on the team, while her 15 ground balls are good for fourth.

Neary anchors the Blue and White defensive effort, one that allowed just under six goals per game in conference play. The Atlantic East Defensive Player of the Year leads the team with 68 draw controls, 30 ground balls and 28 caused turnovers.

Like Little, Atlantic East Rookie of the Year Olivia Pace has made an immediate impact on the Blue and White offense, as her 25 goals rank third on the team, while Dimmerling's 32 points on 21 goals and 11 helpers are good for third on the team.

Hamalak has been solid between the Cabrini pipes all season. The sophomore sports an 8.09 goals against average, best in the Atlantic East, while her .375 save percentage ranks fifth.

Scouting the Jumbos
Despite playing just six contests in 2021, the Jumbos have established themselves as one of the nation's top two way clubs.

Tufts attempts 38 shots per game, resulting in more than 11.3 goals per contest. While their scoring offense ranks 31st in Division III, the club really hangs its hat on a defensive unit that allows just 5.0 goals per game, eighth in the country.

The effort starts in the back with junior Laliberty, who boasts the nation's best save percentage of .695. The newly minted NESCAC Player of the Year also ranks fourth in Div. III with a 5.27 goals against average.

The Tufts attack is led by a trio of seniors, including Lawliss, the NESCAC Offensive Player of the Year, who leads the team with 45 shots, 33 points, 24 goals and nine assists. Classmates Emily Gaines and Kirsten Grazewski have combined for 32 points and 24 goals.